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Japan's Traditional Male Entertainer (Houkan/Taikomochi) ARAI

Advent of Taikomochi and its Historical Background

(B) Taikomochi seen as originating in Otogishu/Hanashishu
(attendants to lords as their conversational partners and advisers)
appearing during the Sengoku (Warring States) Period (1467-1568)

When the nation entered the Sengoku (Warring States) period (1467-1568) during which local lords constantly waged war to expand their domains, “doboshu” attending such lords began to establish their presence as Otogishu or Hanashishu, giving them advice and suggestions about their war strategies, while serving to entertain them with humor as their conversational partners.

The Sengoku period, which was characterized by the term Gekokujo (which literally means “overturning of seniors by juniors”), was put to an end with the advent of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), who made an attempt at reunification of the whole country, but unsuccessfully because of his assassination in the Honnoji Incident in 1582, although it was achieved by his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598). Toyotomi Hideyoshi employed many Otogishu or Hanashishu, among whom was Sorori Shinzaemon, a sword sheath craftsman, legendary for his ready-wit with many amusing anecdotes about him handed down from generation to generation.

After his successful reunification of the nation, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was appointed “Kanpaku”, imperial regent or the chief advisor to the Emperor, which he transferred to his adopted son Hidetsugu, when he was given honorific title “Taiko”, the pronunciation of which is almost similar to “drum” in Japanese. Thereafter, Sorori Shinzaemon called Hideyoshi “Taiko”, currying favor with him by flattering (“mochi-ageru” in Japanese, which literally means “to hold up”) him. The combination of “Taiko” and “Mochi-ageru” has allegedly come to mean “to flatter someone” with the combined words having corrupted into “Taiko-mochi”, suggesting that some Otogishu or Hanashishu particularly skillful in flattering their masters might have been called “Taikomochi” as an established position.

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Copyright Information
Please be aware that any and all texts, images, pictures, photos, designs and other literary works on the TAIKOMOCHI ARAI's websites have obtained legal approval for publication. Please avoid reproducing or copying any part of the websites in any form without the prior permission of the copyright owner. The copyrights of any and all texts, pictures, photos, designs and other literary works on the websites are owned by TAIKOMOCHI ARAI unless otherwise designated, not permitting reproduction or copying of any of them without the prior consent of the copyright owner, which constitutes infringement on the copyright of the websites.(c)2002

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e11-houkan@mitene.or.jp

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.	Copyright Information Please be aware that any and all texts, images, pictures, photos, designs and other literary works on the TAIKOMOCHI ARAI's websites have obtained legal approval for publication. Please avoid reproducing or copying any part of the websites in any form without the prior permission of the copyright owner. The copyrights of any and all texts, pictures, photos, designs and other literary works on the websites are owned by TAIKOMOCHI ARAI unless otherwise designated, not permitting reproduction or copying of any of them without the prior consent of the copyright owner, which constitutes infringement on the copyright of the websites.(c)2002	.
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